On Wednesday, the Illinois Supreme Court announced amendments to Rule 299, which concerns how attorneys are paid for their service. 

The amendments to Rule 299, which was last updated in 2006, were proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Parent Representation. 

The amended rule increases pay for attorneys who are appointed to represent impoverished parties. It also raises the maximum compensation for representation of a defendant in need to $10,000, when it was previously half the amount. 

“This amendment will help improve representation in these important cases,” said Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis in a statement. 

According to the statement, 1st District Appellate Court Justice Mary Mikva and 4th District Appellate Court Justice Kathryn Zenoff said the amendments were also welcomed “to ensure fair compensation for appointed attorneys, particularly in child protection/termination cases.” 

“With the help and input of a state-wide/AOIC-supported Parent Representation Workgroup we have developed training for these attorneys and sought these amendments,” Mikva and Zenoff said in the statement.

The amended rules will become effective on January 1, 2024. More information can be found on the Illinois Supreme Court’s site. 

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